Written and directed by Cedric Klapisch, L’Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment) is the story of a group of students from various parts of Europe who share an apartment in Barcelona where they deal with romantic entanglements and other things. The first in a trilogy of films revolving around characters in Europe, the film is an exploration of different people living in Barcelona where a young man deals with his surroundings and fascination towards a fellow student. Starring Romain Duris, Judith Godreche, Audrey Tautou, Barnaby Metschurat, Cecile de France, Kelly Reilly, and Kevin Bishop. L’Auberge Espagnole is a witty and riveting film from Cedric Klapisch.
The film revolves around a French graduate student who is asked to study in Barcelona for a year as he would live with six other European grad students in an apartment where he deals with a long-distance relationship, feelings for another woman, and other things during the course of a year. It all plays into this man trying to find himself as he’s studying to work in economics as he takes part in the ERAMUS programme to get the job he wanted but that would require him to live and study in Barcelona for the year. Cedric Klapisch’s screenplay is largely told from the perspective of its protagonist Xavier (Romain Duris) who narrates the film as if he’s telling about his experience where he deals with not just homesickness but also culture shock and uncertainty in Barcelona. Even as he would leave behind a girlfriend in Martine (Audrey Tautou) and his mother where he would meet a French couple in Jean-Charles Perrin (Wladimir Yordanoff) and Anne-Sophie (Judith Godreche) whom he would stay with for a bit until finding a place to live.
Upon discovering an ad for apartment, he would pass an interview by his flatmates who are all different students from different parts of Europe. Among them is Wendy (Kelly Reilly) from Britain, Soledad (Cristina Bondo) from Spain, Tobias (Barnaby Metschurat) from Germany, Alessandro (Federico D’Anna) from Italy, and Lars (Christian Pagh) from Denmark as they’re all different and share the apartment where they later add Xavier’s Belgian classmate Isabelle (Cecile de France) to the apartment when their rent is raised. Despite their cultural differences, Xavier and his flatmates prove to be a unique family in some ways as they help each other find love and deal with other things as it would include Wendy’s immature younger brother William (Kevin Bishop) as well as Xavier’s own infatuation towards Anne-Sophie where he turns to Isabelle for advice as she’s a lesbian. Yet, Xavier’s affection toward Anne-Sophie would be complicated by his own long-distance relationship with Martine that would fall apart as it would lead to all sorts of questions for him.
Klapisch’s direction is definitely stylish in terms of the different film formats that is used as well as the elements of montages that help play into Xavier’s whirlwind year where it would have its ups and downs. Shot on location in Barcelona with some of the film shot in Paris, the film does play into the idea of culture shock from Xavier’s perspective as Barcelona isn’t presented as some tourist paradise with its beaches and architectures. Instead, Klapisch emphasizes on some of the smaller parts of the city as well as the cultural differences it has with other Spaniards which upsets Isabelle who learns that she and a few other students are speaking a different dialect than the people in Barcelona. At the same time, Klapisch would show what Xavier had to do to be part of Barcelona as he would meet a bar waiter named Juan (Javier Coromina) who would teach him how to speak Spanish properly and not to take things so seriously. While Klapisch would use some wide shots of some of the locations including scenes at Park Guell and some shots at the Sagrada Familia.
Much of his direction is intimate in its usage of close-ups and medium shots to play into the interaction between the characters and some of the claustrophobic elements of the apartment where Xavier shares a room with Isabelle. It does play into how close the flatmates are as they also socialize together despite some chaotic moments that would involve William who says stupid things including doing something that offends Tobias. There are elements of humor as it relates to a visit from Wendy’s boyfriend Alistair (Iddo Goldberg) as well as a sequence that is surreal which play into Xavier’s own anxieties about his romantic entanglements. By the time the year ends, Xavier’s experience in Barcelona would change him as Klapisch would showcase this growing sense of confusion but also an uncertainty of the direction of Xavier’s life and what he wanted to do with it as it all play into everything he’s narrating about. Overall, Klapisch crafts an evocative yet rapturous film about a French grad’s student time in Barcelona where he encounters romance and life with six other people from different parts of Europe.
Cinematographer Dominique Colin does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it’s very colorful to display the beauty of some of the locations including the beaches as well as the scenes in the apartment including a blackout with the usage of candles for light. Editor Francine Sandberg does brilliant work with the editing with its stylish usage of montages, super-imposed dissolves, and other stylish cuts to play into the energy of the city as well as some of the comedic moments in the film. Production designer Francois Emmanuelli does fantastic work with the look of the apartment in how small it is with some elements of space as well as how badly organized the refrigerator is.
Costume designers Anne Schotte and Teresa Goicoechea do terrific work with the costumes as it is largely casual to play into the personality of the characters in the film. The sound work of Stephane Brunclair and Cyril Moisson is superb for its natural sound in the way music is played in the background as well as the scenes in and around the streets of Barcelona. The film’s music soundtrack largely consists a mixture of different kinds of music that include contributions from Radiohead, Daft Punk, Frederic Chopin, Sonia & Selena, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Ali Farka Toure, Africando All Stars, and Mala Rodriguez.
The casting by Pep Armengol, Lucy Boulting, and Emmanuelle Gaborit is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Jacno as Xavier’s father in a brief scene, Martine Demaret as Xavier’s mother, Paulina Galvez as a flamenco teacher that Isabelle has feelings for, Pere Abello as the landlord, Pere Sagrista as Xavier and Isabelle’s economics professor, Javier Coromina as the bar waiter Juan who teaches Xavier how to act like a Barcelona regular, Irene Motala as a bartender, Iddo Goldberg as Wendy’s boyfriend Alistair, Olivier Raynal as an American musician named Bruce that Wendy falls for, and Jacques Royer as Erasmus who appears to Xavier in his dreams. Christian Pagh is terrific as the Danish student Lars who tries to ensure that everyone is calm and such while Federico D’Anna is superb as the Italian student Alessandro who always wears a football jersey and is sometimes messy to the annoyance of Wendy. Barnaby Metschurat is awesome as the German student Tobias who is trying to study but also have some fun as he really doesn't like William over a joke that is very offensive to Germans.
Cristina Bondo is wonderful as Soledad as the apartment’s sole Spanish grad student who sympathizes with Isabelle’s confusion of the dialects as she is annoyed by William’s perception of Spanish people. Wladimir Yordanoff is excellent as Jean-Charles Perrin as a doctor working at Barcelona for a year as he would let Xavier stay with him and keep his wife company unaware of Xavier’s feelings for his wife. Kevin Bishop is hilarious as Wendy’s immature brother William who likes to say bad jokes and things that offend people yet would prove his worth in a moment late in the film just to help his sister. Audrey Tautou is brilliant as Martine as Xavier’s girlfriend who isn’t happy about him living in France as her brief visit to Barcelona only makes things worse as she copes with the long-distance relationship and her own direction in life. Kelly Reilly is amazing as Wendy as the British student who is known for being a neat-freak of sorts while trying to loosen up as she becomes interested in an American musician.
Judith Godreche is incredible as Anne-Sophie as Jean-Charles’ newlywed wife who deals with her husband’s work and her fear of being alone as she enjoys Xavier’s company where she starts to have feelings for Xavier. Cecile de France is phenomenal as Isabelle as a Belgian student who would share a room with Xavier as she is an open lesbian who knows how to charm women as she would help Xavier while dealing with her own romantic entanglements. Finally, there’s Romain Duris in a remarkable performance as Xavier as a French economic grad student who goes to Barcelona unaware of what will happen there as he deals with a lot as Duris display a lot of humor as well as humility into a young man that is experiencing so much.
L’Auberge Espagnole is a spectacular film from Cedric Klapisch. Featuring a great ensemble cast, a compelling story of love and growth into adulthood, gorgeous locations, and a fun soundtrack. It’s a film that play into the lives of different people living in an apartment in Barcelona and how it would shape the life of a young man in his journey into manhood. In the end, L’Auberge Espagnole is a sensational film from Cedric Klapisch.
Cedric Klapisch Films: (Riens du tout) – (Le Peril jeune) – (When the Cat’s Away) – (Family Resemblances) – (Peut-etre) – (Not For, or Against (Quite the Contrary) – (Russian Dolls) – (Paris (2008 film)) – (My Piece of the Pie) – (Chinese Puzzle) – (La Vin et le vent)
© thevoid99 2018
Written and directed by John Michael McDonough, Calvary is the story in the week of a life of a priest who starts to feel doubt following a threat from an anonymous man. The film isn’t just an exploration about faith but also doubt where a priest contends with those in his parish mocking its ideas while he is trying to help his troubled daughter who has recovered from a suicide attempt. Starring Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Domhnall Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Isaach de Bankole, Dylan Moran, and Aidan Gillen. Calvary is a mesmerizing yet riveting film from John Michael McDonough.
Set in an entire week in a small town in Ireland, the film revolves a priest who receives a threat during confession stating that he will be killed on the next Sunday for sins that other priests had done to him when he was a child. The film is a study into a man’s life on what could be his final week as he receives a visit from his daughter who is recovering from a suicide attempt while he does his duty as a priest. Along the way, he deals with locals whom he suspects is the one making this threat while certain events would happen wouldn’t just test his faith but also raise questions about his own duties as a man.
Even as the character of Father James (Brendan Gleeson) is trying to be a good man and do good for others while being aware that he is very flawed. That is part of the brilliance in the film’s screenplay that John Michael McDonough creates where it’s not just a character study but also a mystery where Father James ponders who wants him dead and if he could really help this person. There are also characters who do see Father James help such as a millionaire named Michael Fitzgerald (Dylan Moran) who is going through a crisis of his own despite the fact that he’s an unpleasant man. At the same time, Father James deals with other things in his small town that makes him question his own faith.
McDonough’s direction is very engaging for the way he opens the film with this static shot of Father James listening to a confession from the person who would ruin him for an entire week. It lasts for a few minutes in an entirely unbroken take as it plays into the sense of dread that would loom throughout the film. While it is largely a suspense-drama, McDonough manages to put in a few quirks as it relates to the world that Father James is in as there are characters he encounters who are either good or just those that are immoral. McDonough’s approach to framing with his usage of wide and medium shots, along with close-ups, play into Father James own sense of detachment from what is happening to him as he struggles to find meaning into his role with the world. Especially as it relates to his own daughter Fiona (Kelly Reilly) who is seeking help as she becomes a reason for Father James to do something good as he is also trying to repair their own relationship in what could be his final days. Overall, McDonough creates an intriguing yet compelling drama about a priest’s encounter with doubt.
Cinematographer Larry Smith does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography in capturing not just the Irish landscapes and mountains but also in some of the scenes set at night for some intricate lighting including the interiors at the pubs where many of the characters go to. Editor Chris Gill does nice work with the editing as it is quite straightforward with a few stylish cuts to play into the air of suspense. Production designer Mark Geraghty and art director Fiona Daly do brilliant work with the look of the church that Father James works at as well as some of the places including the pub where most of the characters frequent. Costume designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh does wonderful work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the robes that Father James wears.
Visual effects supervisor Sheila Wickens does terrific work with the film‘s minimal visual effects for a dream sequence Father James would have involving his daughter as it plays into the events of what could be his last day. Sound editor Ian Wilson does superb work with the sound to play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as some sound effects for a few key scenes. The film’s music by Patrick Cassidy is amazing for its traditional-based Irish folk music along with some orchestral pieces to play into the drama while music supervisor Liz Gallacher brings in a soundtrack that doesn’t just feature traditional Irish folk music but also rock and blues music that Father James and some of the other characters listen to.
The casting by Jina Jay is fantastic as it features notable small performances from Domhnall Gleeson as a former pupil of Father James who is serving time for murder, Owen Sharp as a young boy named Leo, David McSavage as a bishop whom Father Jay turns to for guidance, Marie-Josee Croze as a Frenchwoman whose husband is critically injured from a car accident who turns to Father James for comfort, Killian Scott as a young man named Milo who is unsure of what to do with his life, Pat Shortt as a gay hustler who is having a thing with Father Leary, David Wilmot as Father James’ fellow priest Father Leary, Gary Lydon as a police inspector, and M. Emmet Walsh in a terrific performance as an American writer who is a friend of Father James. Other noteworthy small roles include Orla O’Rourke as the promiscuous Veronica who sleeps around with the men in the small town and Isaach de Bankole in a superb performance as the mechanic Simon.
Dylan Moran is brilliant as the self-loathing millionaire Michael Fitzgerald who tries to seek help from Father James only to display more of his own sense of hatred towards everything including the ideas of what money couldn’t buy. Aidan Gillen is excellent as an atheist doctor who likes to antagonize Father James with his views on the world in order to disprove the idea that God exists. Chris O’Dowd is amazing as the local butcher Jack who copes with his cheating wife Veronica while dealing with other things in the hopes he can find some answers with his own troubles. Kelly Reilly is remarkable as Father James’ daughter Fiona as a woman who is recovering from a suicide attempt as she seeks to try and repair her relationship with her father while watching him deal with his own sense of doubt. Finally, there’s Brendan Gleeson in a phenomenal performance as Father James as this priest who is dealing with a threat that would haunt him for the course of a week as he deals with doubt and other things that would shake his faith as it’s a very eerie yet powerful performance for Gleeson who is at the top of his game with this role.
Calvary is a sensational film from John Michael McDonough that features an incredible performance from Brendan Gleeson. Not only is it a captivating film about faith and doubt but also an eerie character study where a man whose job is to do good and help those is being shaken by dark forces around him. In the end, Calvary is a marvelous film from John Michael McDonough.
Related: The Guard
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by John Gatins, Flight is the story of a substance-abusing airline pilot who manages to stop an airplane from crashing as he later tries to deal with addiction to drugs and alcohol. The film marks a return for Robert Zemeckis after a period of helming motion-capture animated films as he explores a man dealing with his addiction and actions. Starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, and Melissa Leo. Flight is a harrowing yet gripping film from Robert Zemeckis.
The film is this exploration into the life of an airline pilot who is brilliant but troubled by his substance abuse when he suddenly does the impossible and save a bunch of lives during a crash landing that could’ve killed everyone on board. Yet, he not only deals with the fact that there were a few people that did die but also the questions into whether he’s a hero or was he negligent in his role during this event. In turn, Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is forced to face not just what he did but also his substance abuse as he’s an alcoholic who also occasionally does some cocaine. While meeting a recovering heroin addict in Nicole (Kelly Reilly), he tries to deal with the lies he has created as friends try to help him yet the guilt over the lives that were lost and his actions continue to haunt him. It’s a film that is about a man dealing with guilt where he would eventually reach his bottom.
John Gatins’ screenplay is largely a character study about Whitaker as he’s a man that is divorced and he doesn’t see his son very much while he spends most of his time drinking and doing some cocaine with a flight attendant. He’s even intoxicated during this flight where everyone could’ve died but he has somehow managed to pull something off that some describe as miraculous. The film’s first act not only follows Whitaker’s day where he nearly crashed the plane but also Nicole who would reach her bottom after nearly dying of a heroin overdose. Whitaker’s encounter with Nicole would have him thinking about getting sober but his demons would often come back which would threaten their relationship as Nicole is eager to stay clean.
Adding to the chaos of Whitaker’s life is an impending hearing he has to face about his role where he asks those to lie for him so he can save his own skin. Still, there are those like his friend Charlie (Bruce Greenwood) who wants to help as does Whitaker’s lawyer Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle) but Whitaker proves too much to be a man who is just unraveling. Especially as he is convinced that he’s failed as a husband and father as he hopes this hearing he is to attend will get him back on a plane and just do what he does without compromise.
Robert Zemeckis’ direction is unique in not just some of the way he presents the drama but also in the fact that it is a story of a man not willing to face his demons as he is waiting to hit his bottom. Much of the direction in terms of the drama is pretty straightforward but also entrancing in some of the close-ups he creates to showcase the sense of pain and denial that Whitaker is dealing with. He also puts in some little details into the compositions such as the line of coke that is on a small mirror or a tiny bottle of vodka. There is a sense of unpredictability in the way Zemeckis captures a man that could be falling apart one day or be sober the next though it all plays into Whitaker’s state of mind as he just wants to self-destruct or lash out at someone. Still, Zemeckis wants to present Whitaker as a good man in a scene where he helps Nicole move out of her apartment where he fights off her landlord as he would offer her a place to stay. Even as he accompanies to meetings where Zemeckis has the camera on a person talking as well as Whitaker’s reaction where it does play into a sense of foreshadow.
The plane crash sequence is definitely one that is filled with terror and gripping suspense where Zemeckis maintains a claustrophobic intimacy of what goes on in the cockpit as well as where the passengers are sitting as the plane would go upside down. The shots of the plane from the outside are quite spectacular to play into the horror and the sense of the impossible that Whitaker pulled off. Still, that moment would be shown in numerous occasions including the hearing that Whitaker attends as it’s definitely one of the most chilling moments of the film as it is also its climax. One that is just unforgettable not just in its dramatic impact but also in the way Whitaker has to face not just truths about himself but everything else he did in that day. Overall, Robert Zemeckis creates a very powerful drama about a man facing his own demons and the lies that he surrounds himself with.
Cinematographer Don Burgess does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from some of daytime locations in Atlanta as well as the scenes in the Whitaker farm to some of the interior scenes such as some shots in hotels and the bars that Whitaker goes to. Editor Jeremiah O’Driscoll does brilliant work with the editing from the use of rhythmic cuts for the film‘s intense moments in the plane to some of the stylish cuts for some of the film‘s dramatic moments. Production designer Nelson Coates, with set decorator James Edward Farrell Jr. and art director David Lazan does fantastic work with the set pieces such as the plane as well as the farm that Whitaker lives in as a sanctuary to get away from the press and the world.
Costume designer Louise Frogley does terrific work with the costumes where it‘s mostly casual with the exception of the hippie-like look of Whitaker‘s friend/drug dealer Harling. Visual effects supervisors Kevin Baillee and Hitesh Shah do amazing work with the visual effects for the scene of the plane where it plays into that sense of danger where it looks like it‘s going to crash as it‘s one of the film‘s major highlights. Sound designers Dennis Leonard and Randy Thom do superb work with the sound to capture what was going on inside that plane as well as some of the sound mixing to play into the troubled state of mind from Whitaker as well as Nicole early in the film. The film’s music by Alan Silvestri is wonderful for its broad orchestral score for some of the film’s intense moments along with low-key cuts to underscore the drama while its soundtrack contains a mix of music from the Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Marvin Gaye, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and several others.
The casting by Scot Boland and Victoria Burrows is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small performances from Nadine Velazquez as the stewardess Whitaker is with in the beginning of the film, Peter Geraty as the airline owner who wants to punish Whitaker for making him lose money, Garcelle Beauvais as Whitaker’s ex-wife Deana, Justin Martin as Whitaker’s son who doesn’t want to see him, Tamara Tunie as a flight attendant that survived the crash as she knows about Whitaker’s substance abuse, and James Badge Dale in a very memorable one-scene performance as a cancer patient Whitaker and Nicole meet at the hospital. Brian Geraghty is terrific as Whitaker’s co-pilot Ken Evans who would survive the crash as he would be a key person that would force Whitaker to confront his demons. Melissa Leo is wonderful as a NTSB investigator who interrogates Whitaker at the hearing.
John Goodman is very funny as Whitaker’s drug dealer Harling who always comes in to a Rolling Stones song as he would find ways to get Whitaker back up as he’s also a very unique individual who is an enabler but also the one person that can get him to focus. Don Cheadle is superb as Whitaker’s lawyer Hugh Lang who tries to get Whitaker to face the reality of his situation while admitting to not liking him. Bruce Greenwood is excellent as Whitaker’s friend Charlie who tries to help him deal with the legal things as well as trying to get him sober no matter how impossible it is. Kelly Reilly is fantastic as Nicole as this recovering heroin addict who befriends Whitaker as she would also live with him for a while as she would struggle with his alcoholism and her need to be sober.
Finally, there’s Denzel Washington in a magnificent performance as William “Whip” Whitaker as a man who lives a very exciting but empty life of being an airline pilot as well as doing all of the things a pilot does. Yet, he is a man that is denial over his substance abuse as he is also quite cruel and abusive to others which adds a sense of power to Washington’s performance. He can make Whitaker a despicable human being but also one who is sympathetic and in need of help as it is definitely Washington creating one of his best roles ever.
Flight is an incredible film from Robert Zemeckis that features a tour-de-force performance from Denzel Washington. Along with strong supporting work from John Goodman, Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, and Don Cheadle. The film is definitely one of Zemeckis’ best films that explores a man falling apart in the wake of a nearly catastrophic event where he does something miraculous. Even as he is forced to wake up and face the demons in his life. In the end, Flight is a phenomenal film from Robert Zemeckis.
Robert Zemeckis Films: (I Wanna Hold Your Hand) - (Used Cars) - (Romancing the Stone) - Back to the Future - (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) - (Back to the Future Part II) - (Back to the Future Part III) - (Death Becomes Her) - (Forrest Gump) - (Contact) - (What Lies Beneath) - (Cast Away) - (The Polar Express) - (Beowulf (2007 film)) - (A Christmas Carol (2009 film)) - The Walk (2015 film) - (Doc Brown Saves the World) - (Allies (2017 film))
© thevoid99 2013
Based on the novel by Robert Kaplow, Me and Orson Welles is the story of a 17-year old kid who meets Orson Welles who is about to stage his production of Julius Caesar. Directed by Richard Linklater and written by Holly Gent Palmo and Vincent Palmo Jr., the film is an exploration into a young man discovering the world of theater and dealing with the big personality that is Orson Welles who is played by Christian McKay. Also starring Zac Efron, Claire Danes, and Ben Chaplin. Me and Orson Welles is an extraordinary film from Richard Linklater.
The film is about a 17-year old high school student who goes to New York City based on his interests in the arts where unexpectedly runs into Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater company who are doing a modern-day play of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The boy gets a small part as he also falls for a production assistant as he finds himself in the intense world of theatrical rehearsals as well as the massive personality of Welles. Notably as there’s egos involved as well as deadlines as it’s all seen by this kid who has to deal with all of that as well as doing whatever it takes to not upset Welles is a giant that can squash him.
The screenplay plays into a week in the life of Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) who is fascinated by the world of art and theater as he’s also a fan of Welles’ work in plays and radio. While Richard has aspirations to be part of it, he finds himself in that world by accident all because he wowed Welles with his charm and the ability to do a drum roll properly. The script showcases all the ins and outs of what happens in a play rehearsal where things can go wrong and there’s a lot of pressure out there. Yet, no one is as more intense than Welles as he’s a man who is a perfectionist and is hoping that everyone does their part right including the musicians in the background and the technical crew. Though Richard is aware of Welles’ personality, he has no idea how dangerous it can be to the point that Welles is also a man who sleeps with various women including the production assistant Sonja Jones (Claire Danes) whom Richard falls for.
Richard Linklater’s direction is quite engaging for the way he presents the world of theater in all of its moments on and off the stage where everyone is making sure nothing goes wrong. Notably as Welles is waiting for something bad to happen just to ensure that he can overcome that obstacle. Shot in Pinewood Studios in Britain with some locations in New York City, the film does play to a moment in time where America is coming out of the Great Depression and people are looking for art to find an escape from troubled times. Yet, there’s also moments that plays into Welles’ life such as a scene in an ambulance where Welles talks about The Magnificent Ambersons to Richard as a book as he hopes to make it something more in the future.
The direction has Linklater create some amazing compositions to showcase that world of late 1930s New York City that is very vibrant and colorful while maintaining that air of intimacy in the theater. The film’s climax comes in the performance of Julius Caesar where it is presented with such bravado and poignancy as it also shows how far Richard has come from this boy who knew very little into finally understanding his role as Lucius in the play. The film does play into that theme of someone coming-of-age in Richard as he goes into a major growth from boy to man while having a fuller understanding of what it means to be an artist. Overall, Linklater crafts a very dazzling yet captivating film about art and growth.
Cinematographer Dick Pope does brilliant work with the film‘s very colorful yet lush cinematography from the scenes set in the exteriors in day and night to the more extravagant use of lights for the film‘s climatic play scene. Editor Sandra Adair does wonderful work with the editing to create some rhythmic cuts to capture the intensity of the stage performances as well as some lighter moments in the scenes outside of the theater. Production designer Laurence Dorman, with set decorator Richard Roberts and supervising art director Bill Crutcher, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of many of the sets in the city including a museum that Richard goes to as well as the stage setting for the climatic play.
Costume designer Nic Ede does excellent work with the costumes from the dresses the women wear to the suits and uniforms the men wear for the play. Visual effects supervisor Robert Duncan does terrific work with the minimal set dressing for many of the exteriors of 1937 New York City without embellishing things way too much. Sound editor Ian Wilson does superb work with the sound to capture the level of noise that happens throughout the rehearsals and the things that happens on and off the stage. The film’s music by Michael J. McEvoy is a delight as it plays to the upbeat jazz music of the late 1930s as music supervisor Marc Marot also uses music of that time including some notable standards.
The casting by Lucy Bevan is amazing for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable appearances from Saskia Reeves as voice actress Barbara Luddy, Imogen Poots as a radio broadcast assistant, Al Weaver as an unappreciated set designer named Sam, and Zoe Kazan as an aspiring writer named Gretta that Richard meets early in the film and later befriends her. Other memorable yet fantastic supporting roles include Kelly Reilly as the lead actress Muriel Brasser, James Tupper as the very generous Joseph Cotten, Leo Bill as the mischievous Norman Lloyd, Eddie Marsan as the very anxious stage manager John Houseman, and Ben Chaplin in a terrific performance as the very dramatic stage actor George Coulouris.
Claire Danes is wonderful as production assistant Sonja Jones as a woman who is driven by her career as she hopes to work for David O. Selznick while intrigued by the ambition of Richard whom she seduces. Christian McKay is phenomenal as Orson Welles as a man who is full of bravado and ambition as well as an intensity where McKay is able to bring Welles back to life. Finally, there’s Zac Efron in a marvelous performance as Richard Samuel as a 17-year old high school student who is fascinated by the world of theater and art as he becomes part of that world while knowing what he must do when dealing with someone like Welles as Efron is able to stand on his own and bring depth to his character.
Me and Orson Welles is a remarkable film from Richard Linklater that features superb performances from Zac Efron and Christian McKay. The film is definitely a very intriguing look into the world of theater as well as Orson Welles’ time as a playwright. It’s also a coming-of-age film that works in the way explores a young man discovering that world as he also learns what it means to be an actor. In the end, Me and Orson Welles is a riveting film from Richard Linklater.
Richard Linklater Films: It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books - Slacker - Dazed & Confused - Before Sunrise - subUrbia - The Newton Boys - Waking Life - Tape - School of Rock - Before sunset - Bad News Bears (2005 film) - A Scanner Darkly - Fast Food Nation - Bernie (2011 film) - Before Midnight - Boyhood - Everybody Want Some!! - The Auteurs #57: Richard Linklater Pt. 1 - Pt. 2
© thevoid99 2013
